17643
|
Shape is essential relative to 'statue', but not essential relative to 'clay' [Putnam]
|
|
Full Idea:
Relative to the description 'that statue', a certain shape is an essential property of the object; relative to the description 'that piece of clay', the shape not an essential property (but being clay is).
|
|
From:
Hilary Putnam (Why there isn't a ready-made world [1981], 'Intro')
|
|
A reaction:
Relative to the description 'that loathsome object', is the statue essentially loathsome? Asserting the essence of an object is a response to the object, not a response to a description of it. This is not the solution to the statue problem.
|
17642
|
The old view that sense data are independent of mind is quite dotty [Putnam]
|
|
Full Idea:
Moore and Russell held the strange view that 'sensibilia' (sense data) are mind-independent entities: a view so dotty, on the face of it, that few analytic philosophers like to be reminded that this is how analytic philosophy started.
|
|
From:
Hilary Putnam (Why there isn't a ready-made world [1981], 'Intro')
|
|
A reaction:
I suspect the view was influenced by the anti-psychologism of Frege, and his idea that all the other concepts are mind-independent, living by their own rules in a 'third realm'. Personally I think analytic philosophy needs more psychology, not less.
|
8120
|
Objects can be beautiful which express nothing at all, such as the rainbow [Herbart, by Tolstoy]
|
|
Full Idea:
Objects are often beautiful which express nothing at all, as, for instance, the rainbow, which is beautiful for its lines and colours and not for its mythological connexion with Iris, or Noah's rainbow.
|
|
From:
report of Johann Herbart (works [1830]) by Leo Tolstoy - What is Art? Ch.3
|
|
A reaction:
A nice counterexample to Tolstoy's own theory. The example is one of a natural beauty, but it would be harder to find examples in human art. How much the artist may feel, though, has little to do with the success of a work of art.
|
7903
|
The six perfections are giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom [Nagarjuna]
|
|
Full Idea:
The six perfections are of giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom.
|
|
From:
Nagarjuna (Mahaprajnaparamitashastra [c.120], 88)
|
|
A reaction:
What is 'morality', if giving is not part of it? I like patience and vigour being two of the virtues, which immediately implies an Aristotelian mean (which is always what is 'appropriate').
|